Totnes
Totnes shown within the United Kingdom
Population	8000 (2001 census estimate)
OS grid reference	SX805605
District	South Hams
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	TOTNES
Postcode district	TQ9
Dialling code	01803
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	Totnes
European Parliament	South West England
List of places: UK • England • Devon

Coordinates: 50°25′56″N 3°41′02″W / 50.43216, -3.68391 Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 11 KB) Summary Description: A blank map of the United Kingdom, with country outline and coastline; contact the author for help with modifications or add-ons Source: Reference map provided by Demis Mapper 6 Date: 2006-21-06 Author: User... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England. ... Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of English administrative division used for the purposes of local government. ... Part of the seafront of Torquay, south Devon, at high tide Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, and Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... South West England is one of the regions of England. ... Constituent countries is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a number of countries make up a larger entity or grouping; thus the OECD has used the phrase in reference to the former Yugoslavia[1], the Soviet Union and European institutions such as the Council of... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The TQ postcode area, also known as the Torquay postcode area[2], is a group of postal districts around Brixham, Buckfastleigh, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Salcombe, South Brent, Teignmouth, Torquay and Totnes in England. ... The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Numbering Plan, is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. ... Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is the Home Office police force responsible for policing the counties of Devon and Cornwall and the unitary authorities of Plymouth, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly. ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service or FRS covering the counties of Somerset and Devon, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, in the south west of England Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was founded on 1 April 2007... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SWAST) is the authority responsible for providing NHS ambulance services in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Totnes is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... The constituency (first used 2004) within England; Gibraltar is in the inset. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places within counties List of places in Bedfordshire List of places in Berkshire List of places in Buckinghamshire List of places in Cambridgeshire List of places in Cheshire List of places in Cleveland List of places... This is a list of settlements in Devon, England. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Totnes (IPA: [tɒtˈnıs, tɒtˈnɛs]) is a market town in South Devon, England. Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Part of the seafront of Torquay, south Devon, at high tide Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, and Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Indications of Totnes' former wealth and importance are given by the number of merchants' houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries, one open to the public as the town museum. The remains of the Norman Totnes Castle (now owned by English Heritage) may also be visited. It was built during the reign of William I. Equally notable is the late medieval church of St Mary built of rich red Devonian stone. The ancient Leechwell (so named because of the supposed medicinal properties of its water, and apparently where lepers once came to wash) still provides fresh water, and is preserved from former days. At the western edge of the town is the Dartington Hall Estate, which includes the Schumacher College and Dartington College of Arts. The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the nave is a forerunner of the Gothic style. ... Totnes Castle Totnes Castle is one of the best preserved examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in England. ... The standard of English Heritage English Heritage is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ... William I of England (c. ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... The Leechwell is a set of three springs in Totnes, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... Dartington Hall Estate Gardens Dartington Hall, near Totnes, Devon, England, is a medieval hall built between 1388 and 1400 for John Holand, Earl of Huntingdon, half-brother to Richard II. After John was beheaded, the Crown owned the estate until it was acquired in 1559 by Sir Arthur Champernowne, Vice... Schumacher College was founded in 1991 in Dartington, Totnes, Devon, UK by Satish Kumar. ... Dartington College of Arts is a college in Totnes, Devon, South West England, specialising in Post-dramatic Theatre, Music, Performance Writing and Visual Performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. ...

A prominent feature of the town is the Eastgate — an arch spanning the middle of the main street. This Elizabethan entrance to the walled town was destroyed in a fire in September 1990, before being rebuilt again. The town is built on a hill above the River Dart, which divides Totnes from the suburb of Bridgetown, and is tidal up to Totnes, where it meets a 17th century weir. It provides navigation to seagoing boats and until 1995 was used for the import and export of goods. The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ... The River Dart The River Dart is a river in Devon, UK. The river rises on Dartmoor, as two separate branches (the East Dart and West Dart), which join at Dartmeet. ... Bridgetown is not really a separate town, but is a part of Totnes. ...

Totnes railway station is situated on the Reading to Plymouth Line, and has trains direct to London and Plymouth. Totnes is the southern end of the South Devon Railway Trust which runs a tourist steam engine from Buckfastleigh. The A38 passes within 10km. Totnes railway station serves the towns of Totnes and Dartington in South Devon. ... It has been suggested that Cornish Main Line be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... , Plymouth (Cornish: ) is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the... The South Devon Railway Trust is a charity organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart. ... Buckfastleigh is a small town in Devon, England, partly within Dartmoor National Park, and on the A38. ... A38 passing under M50 in Worcestershire The A38 is a major trunk road in England. ...

Arms of Totnes Town Council

Today Totnes is also a thriving centre for music, art, theatre and natural health, and its fascinating blend of traditional and alternative culture lends it a unique atmosphere. Totnes has a reputation of being a haven for "new age" people. There is a sizeable alternative community, and the town is known both nationally and internationally as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle. There are a number of facilities for artists, painters and musicians, and at the twice-weekly market you buy antiques, musical instruments, second-hand books, handmade clothing from across the world, and local organically produced products. Arms of Totnes Town Council. ... Arms of Totnes Town Council. ... New Age describes a broad movement characterized by alternative approaches to traditional Western culture. ... Bohemians are inhabitants of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. ...

History

According to local legend, Totnes was the site where Brutus of Troy, the mythical founder of Britain, first came ashore on the island. Nennius' version of the Old Chronicles states that there were already some relatives of Brutus in possession of Alban, and presumably at the tin-mines in Cornwall, before the arrival of Brutus. Brutus of Troy or Brutus I of the Britons (Welsh: Bryttys), according to the accounts of the early Welsh historians Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth, was the first king of the Britons. ... Nennius, or Nemnivus, is the name of two shadowy personages traditionally associated with the history of Wales. ...

Despite this legendary history, the first authenticated history of Totnes is in AD 900, when it was fortified as part of the defensive ring of castles built around Devon by King Alfred the Great, replacing one built a few years earlier at nearby Halwell. Alfred (also Ælfred from the Old English: Ælfrēd //) (c. ...

The origin of the name Totnes itself is unclear. It may either be Celtic or Saxon in origin, but is thought to refer to a lookout (Anglo-Saxon tota) on a "headland" (A-S naess, "ness"); this refers to the hill upon which stand Fore Street, High Street and, at its summit, the town's motte and bailey castle which was built during the reign of William the Conqueror.In early medieval times the low-lying areas around this hill were largely marsh or tidal wetland, giving the hill much more the appearance of a "ness" than today. Model of a motte-and-bailey Plan of Windsor Castle in 1743 by Batty Langley The remains of a motte, at Brinklow in Warwickshire, England The motte, at Knockgraffon, New Inn in County Tipperary, Ireland The remains of a Motte situated in Callan, Co Kilkenny, Ireland A motte-and-bailey... William I of England (c. ...

Totnes' borough charter was granted by King John, probably around 1206; at any rate, the 800th anniversary of the charter was celebrated in 2006. Totnes lost its borough status in local government reorganisation in 1974. As a former borough and mint, Totnes was once a place of some significance. This article is about the King of England. ... A mint is a facility which manufactures coins for currency. ...

Totnes was served by Totnes electoral borough from 1295 until the reform act of 1867, but was restored by the 1884 Franchise Act. The constituency of Totnes was abolished a second time in 1983, and formed part of the South Hams constituency until 1997, when it was restored as the Totnes constituency. Events Mongol leader Ghazan Khan is converted to Islam, ending a line of Tantric Buddhist leaders. ... South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England. ... Totnes is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

Notable people

Notable people from Totnes include:

• The explorer William John Wills of the Burke and Wills expedition fame was born in Totnes. A memorial to Wills was erected, using the money from public subscriptions, in 1864. It can still be seen on the Plains. There were originally two gas lamps attached to the monument, but both have since been removed.
• Charles Babbage had a strong family connection with the town and returned to attend the grammar school for a period before going up to Cambridge.
• Admiral Sir Frederick Michell KCB (1788-1873) died in Totnes.
• Hebrew scholar, Benjamin Kennicott was also born in Totnes.
• William Stumbels, a clockmaker lived and worked in Totnes in the 18th century. (His workshop was possibly at No. 4 Castle Street, within the town walls.) Two of his clocks: a longcase (grandfather) and a turret clock are displayed in the museum.^[1]
• John Prince was vicar of Totnes in the late 17th Century, was author of The Worthies of Devon, a major biographical work. He was also involved in a scandal, the court records of which have been made into a book, The Curious Sexual Adventure of the Reverend John Prince. This book has now also been adapted for the stage.
• Pop music prankster Jimmy Cauty (one half of The KLF) was born in Totnes.^[2]
• Novelist Mary Wesley, author of The Camomile Lawn, spent her final years in Totnes.
• Humorous poet Matt Harvey is a resident.
• William Brockedon, Artist and inventor, 1787-1854. Son of Philip Brockedon, Clockmaker.
• Joseph Mount, a musician who records under the name Metronomy, lived in Totnes for a while.
• The novelist Desmond Bagley lived in Totnes from 1964 to 1976.
• Historian James Anthony Froude, author of ''History of England From the fall of cardinal Wolsey to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, was born in Totnes. His brother Richard Hurrell Froude was a theologian; he originated the Tractarian or Oxford Movement which created the High Church.
• Botanist Francis George Heath was born in Totnes.
• Margaret Isherwood, writer on religion and education, lived in Totnes. She wrote several books including Heart of the Matter.
• Linguist Edward Lye, who wrote the first dictionary of Anglo-Saxon, was born in Totnes.
• Playwright Sean O'Casey lived in the town from 1938 to 1964.
• Critic, author and playwright Allen Saddler lives in Totnes.
• Vian Smith was born in Totnes, lived in the area for most of his life (excepting war service), and wrote extensively on Dartmoor.

William John Wills William John Wills (1834-1861) was born in Totnes in Devon and migrated to Victoria in 1853. ... Robert OHara Burke by William Strutt William John Wills In 1860-61 Robert OHara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, a distance of around... Babbage redirects here. ... Benjamin Kennicott (April 4, 1718 – September 18, 1783), was an English churchman and Hebrew scholar. ... Stumbles is a family name probably originating in the United Kingdom but nowadays also found in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, and the United States. ... A longcase clock with a pine case, c. ... John Prince (1643-1723) was vicar of Totnes and Berry Pomeroy, in Devon, United Kingdom, and was a biographer of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. ... James Cauty, Jimmy or Jimi, also known as Rockman Rock, was born in Devon, England in 1956 and not much is known about him until, as a 17-year old artist, he painted a popular Lord of the Rings poster (and later, a counterpart based on The Hobbit) for Athena. ... The KLF (also known as The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (The JAMs), The Timelords and other names) were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Mary Aline Mynors Farmar (June 24, 1912 - December 30, 2002), better known as Mary Wesley, was a British novelist. ... Produced by Channel 4 Television Corporation in 1992 this was a vivid and lively television drama of wartime London and Cornwall as seen through the eyes of five cousins. ... Matt Harvey is a British humourist and performance poet who has published a number of books and makes regular contributions to radio broadcasts [1] . He began his career as a performer in 1992, giving live performances to audiences in the South West of England. ... William Brockedon was a 19th century English painter. ... Metronomy (Joseph Mount) is an electronic artist from Brighton, United Kingdom. ... The cover of the Fontana 1982 paperback edition of Bagleys The Snow Tiger Desmond Bagley (October 29, 1923 Kendal - April 12, 1983 Southampton), was a UK journalist and novelist principally known for a series of best-selling thrillers. ... James Anthony Froude (April 23, 1818 - October 20, 1894) was an English historian, the brother of William Froude, the engineer and naval architect. ... Richard Hurrell Froude (25 March 1803-28 February 1836) was an Anglican priest and an early leader of the Oxford Movement. ... High Church relates to ecclesiology and liturgy in Christian theology and practice. ... The Anglo-Saxons refers collectively to the groups of Germanic tribes who achieved dominance in southern Britain from the mid-5th century, forming the basis for the modern English nation. ... Sean OCasey Sean OCasey (March 30, 1880 - September 18, 1964) was a major Irish dramatist and memorist. ...

Miscellany

St Marys Church

• Totnes is twinned with the French town of Vire, after which Vire Island nearby the 'Plains' is named.
• King Edward VI Community College is the local secondary school which shares its name with the former grammar school set up by King Edward VI over 450 years ago.
• In March 2007 Totnes launched a local currency, the Totnes Pound, accepted as legal tender at some shops^[3]
• Transition Town Totnes is a recent community-led initiative to explore how the town can prepare for a carbon constrained, energy lean world. The initiative is working towards the creation of an Energy Descent Action Plan for the town.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 426 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Totnes Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 426 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Totnes Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Vire is a commune and a canton of the département of Calvados, in the Basse-Normandie région, in France. ... Secondary school is a term used to describe an institution where the final stage of compulsory schooling, known as secondary education, takes place. ... In economics, a local currency is a currency not backed by a national government, and intended to trade only in a small area. ...

See also

• Dartington
• Dartington Hall

Dartington is a village in Devon, England. ... Dartington Hall Estate Gardens Dartington Hall, near Totnes, Devon, England, is a medieval hall built between 1388 and 1400 for John Holand, Earl of Huntingdon, half-brother to Richard II. After John was beheaded, the Crown owned the estate until it was acquired in 1559 by Sir Arthur Champernowne, Vice...

References

External links

• Totnes Tourist Information
• Totnes museum
• Shiny hippy people (The Observer)
• Battle to save celebrated cradle of cutting edge art (The Guardian)
• Transition Town Totnes